METRO has a number of green initiatives, and the agreement with GDF SUEZ Energy Resources advances many of those efforts. For instance, the authority will offset 20 percent of its electricity consumption by purchasing Green-e Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, which, in turn, will provide 6,232 RECs to offset another 5 percent. Each REC represents the environmental attributes or benefits associated with a specific quantity of energy produced from a renewable source, such as solar or wind.

Additionally, GDF SUEZ Energy Resources will determine the carbon footprint of three key parts of METRO's operations - buildings, public facilities (rail stations, park-and-rides, transit centers, etc.), and traction propulsion substations - and provide a monthly carbon footprint report. GDF SUEZ Energy Resources will use a carbon footprint reporting tool that is designed to track facility performance and to assist METRO in its energy decisions.

The focus on RECs and the carbon footprint report reinforces METRO's goals for financial, social, and environmental sustainability. METRO officials explained that GDF SUEZ Energy Resources' commitment to these kinds of sustainable practices was a key factor in the contract decision.

"We are deeply honored that METRO has demonstrated its confidence in our services," said Sam Henry, Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ Energy Resources. "We look forward not only to meeting METRO's electricity requirements, but also helping METRO reach its sustainability and energy management goals."

The combined RECs from GDF SUEZ Energy Resources and METRO - offsetting a total of 25 percent of the authority's electricity consumption - will have a significant effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Using a calculator from the Environmental Protection Agency, the RECs are the equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 563,716 tree seedlings grown for 10 years, removing about 21,985 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or displacing the estimated annual greenhouse gas emissions of 4,580 passenger vehicles.

About GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA

GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA is one of the largest non-residential retail electricity suppliers in the U.S. and currently serves commercial, industrial and institutional customers in 12 markets: Delaware, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. The company serves approximately 80,000 accounts for customers having a peak demand ranging from 50 KW to more than 200 MW, with an estimated peak load totaling nearly 10,000 MW. The company offers electricity service to small business customers under the brand Think Energy(TM).

For more about GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, visit www.gdfsuezenergyresources.com or call 1-866-999-8374. GDF SUEZ Energy Resources is a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ Energy North America, which manages a range of energy businesses in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, asset-based trading and origination, and retail energy sales and related services to commercial and industrial customers. GDF SUEZ Energy North America is a part of the international energy group GDF SUEZ. For more information, please visit www.gdfsuezna.com and www.gdfsuez.com.